Activities for Toddlers - Need some ideas!

I recently (as in as of today) went from being a FTWM (4days a week) to a SAHM (at least temporarily) and I am looking for ideas of things to do with my 13 month old.

I do the library classs, play dates etc.. but am looking for ideas of what to do together while we are home.

what kinds of activities can you do with a 1 year old at home to keep them engaged and stimulated ?

for mommys with kids in daycare what kinds of things do your DC do in daycare to pass the day?


Thanks ladies!

Message edited 1/12/2013 8:39:00 PM.

Re: Activities for Toddlers - Need some ideas!

Local library is usually a great resource. Also, depending on where you live, there is the Children's museum, the Cradle of Aviation has a cute little play area. We are in Suffolk and love the Eco center in Holtsville, the LI aquarium and Safari place in Riverhead. Also Krazy kids in Medford has a VERY SMALL toddler play area.

Activities for Toddlers - Need some ideas!

I do a mommy and me class at the local Y one day a week, the library at least one day a week, errands two days a week and the park when it's nice out. I also work out 4 mornings a week and put DD in the Y day care, and she enjoys that a lot too.

Activities for Toddlers - Need some ideas!

Thanks girls. Lori-- what kinds of things do they do with DD in the Y day care?

Activities for Toddlers - Need some ideas!

My daughter likes to color, we also do fingerprinting the clear kind but appears to be colors on special paper

Re: Activities for Toddlers - Need some ideas!

Music together
Gymboree, my gym, little gym
Swim class
Messy Art class (and if you want to do it at home - play dough, markers, stamps, shaving cream, painting, crayons)
Library class

Re: Activities for Toddlers - Need some ideas!

When we spend the day at home we usually look at books, color, puzzles.
I ask her to help me while I load the dishwasher & clean.
She's only 18months but the amount of things she can do & understands surprises me all the time.
When I want her to get some energy out so she gets tired for bedtime I chase her around the dining room table & she loves it

Re: Activities for Toddlers - Need some ideas!

We do a lot of baking and art projects.

Re: Activities for Toddlers - Need some ideas!

I would check Pinterest for some ideas. Those ladies think of everything (and make me feel like an awful mother).

Some of my favorite ideas are "fishing" in the bathtub with magnetic fishing sets, making "moon sand" and "ooblek", "painting" in baking soda with tinted vinegar in an eye dropper, and flipping your colander upside down and threading colored pipe cleaners through it.

Also, there are some great DVDs out there for quiet time. Dd got a few HBO Classical Baby programs and Elmo specials. They're just long enough to keep their attention but calm them down before a nap or while you're trying to prepare lunch. I've also looked into the Little Pim series to learn foreign languages for when she's older.

Re: Activities for Toddlers - Need some ideas!

Coloring, finger painting, freeze dance (this tires them out fabulously!), we'd build VILLAGES with foam blocks (ok I'd build, she'd destroy!), play with magnets on cookie sheets, etc.

Activities for Toddlers - Need some ideas!

thanks ladies.. I just rechecked this thread and found some great new ideas =)